The Ba Duan Jin course – Powerful Qigong

The Ba Duan Jin course – Taught as Internal exercises

This Ba Duan Jin course has optional captions (English, French & Spanish).

The Ba Duan Jin course is one of the most commonly practiced Qigong In the world. These Qigong have a variety of Anglicized names. Among them are: Eight Pieces of Brocade, the Eight-Section Brocade, and the Eight Silken Movements. All of the movements featured in the Ba Duan Jin course are also contained in the Ten Fundamental Treasures and in the Qigong that are known simply as the Silk Exercises (there are four sets of Silk Exercises). But each of these contain Qigong with different focus and different benefits. They all share a common source and as these Qigong were passed from Masters to students…… some of whom then went on to become Masters, there are now variations seen.

Some of the variations are acceptable and some are not. The acceptable variations are still Internal exercises with the focus on the Qi. Those variations are on where the focus is, what meridians are being stimulated and what Element is are being worked with. The unacceptable variations are where these Qigong have been watered down to the point of being purely physical in nature………. and that takes them out of the realm of true Qigong.

The use of the word “silk” in the name imparts three pieces of information. Firstly, it tells us that these Qigong were/are perceived as being of great value. Secondly, the process of making silk was regarded as a state secret of Ancient China and like making silk, the true nature of these Qigong was hidden from the outside world. Thirdly, it tells us that the movement within the exercise is strong and smooth like silk. The movement I am referring  to isn’t the physical movement, it is the movement of the Qi.

The goal of having strong, smooth, Qi flow is there to improve our health. Physical health, psychological health and spiritual health. So, the Ba Duan Jin is primarily a form of medical Qigong. However, the history of this set is martial and it is mentioned in several books that were written during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CC).

As with all Qigong, the aim is to enhance the Qi through the use of the Yi (that is the cognitive, reasoning, brain). This is not done through imagination. It is done through focus and, when the body and Shen (the consciousness) are quiet, there is tangible feedback. You can experience the flow of the Qi. With that feedback your skill and ability to stimulate and enhance the Qi will grow.

To attain that stillness, when standing, proper posture is required. In the Ba Duan Jin the stances used are Wuji stance and Horse Riding stance. Once these have been covered we will move on to the individual Qigong where the basic physical movements will be taught before the focus, where you should be focusing, is added.

In the Ba Duan Jin course

• You will learn what meridians are being stimulated and have downloadable diagrams of these.
• You will be taught the proper posture for each Qigong exercise.
• You will be taught how to stay sunk (the Qi) and rooted (the weight, the physical) while shifting the weight from foot to foot.
• You will learn what acupuncture points you should be focusing on.
• You will be given guidance on where to listen and increase your awareness of the Qi.

The Ba Duan Jin course contains four lessons for each exercise

• What meridians you will be working with.
• The the physical movements and focus.
• The Internal movement and focus.
• The follow me video that highlights where you should be focusing.

In addition to the Ba Duan Jin course

As an additional resource to the Ba Duan Jin course you have the opportunity to delve further into these qigong by either using our online Qigong classes, or the Ba Duan Jin classes archive.

There is only so much that you can teach in a course, only so much you can learn and so much that you can experience. These classes are fluid and organic in the way that they are taught. The content is driven by the questions asked about these Qigong as well as by the level of understanding of those taking part.